Expect oodles of cuteness with the zodiac-themed Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon
Be warned: these dragons will get you with their irresistible sweetness. Instead of bearing a powerful and ferocious presence, these tiny dragons, as depicted by contemporary Japanese artist Ryoko Kaneta on Franck Muller’s Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon watch, are cute and adorable—surprising watch collectors with a fresh take on commemorative Year of the Dragon timepieces.
Limited to 500 pieces to the Asia Pacific market, this exclusive collection again demonstrates Franck Muller’s knack for creating delightfully capricious timepieces. Just as it was with last year’s #FR2NCK MULLER Vanguard—an 800-piece Asia Pacific-exclusive watch designed in partnership with Tokyo-based streetwear label #FR2—the new Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon takes on a leftfield approach to zodiac-themed special editions.
This time, the brand’s classic tonneau-shaped dial serves as an open canvas for Kaneta, a leading young Tokyo-based Japanese artist. A graduate of the Yokohama College of Art and Design, Kaneta is known for exploring the ancient Japanese philosophy of divinity in living things through her modern, manga-inspired creations.
On the Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon, Kaneta depicts dragons as little girls, sporting tiny horns, big expressive eyes, and donning schoolgirl outfits. The 12 cartoon dragons are shown playing alongside the collection’s iconic Art Deco-style hour numerals, expressing both mischief and mystique. The artist enjoys depicting elements of nature as anthropomorphic beings, and her unique aesthetic is on full display here, adding to the Cintrée Curvex collection’s illustrious repertoire of charming wrist statements.
Although Kaneta depicts the dragons as cute and doll-like, the work of art is underscored by philosophical and artistic ruminations. For instance, the cartoon-ish “chibi”-style drawings reflect modern Japanese society’s obsession with the “kawaii” (cute) aesthetic.
At the same time, the personification of the dragons as little girls draws on the traditional Japanese “Shinto” philosophy of imbuing spiritual qualities in living things, as well as traditional East Asian belief that view the dragon as a heavenly creature with powers to bless farmers with rain for bountiful harvests. Hence, Kaneta illustrates her dragons with aqua blue hair as a subtle reference to them as bringers of rain—with the turquoise colour on the guilloche dial, indices, and alligator strap also echoing the symbolism.
Besides drawing on her own cultural and spiritual inspirations, Kaneta also channels Franck Muller’s unique watchmaking features in her artwork. The dragons’ dalliances around the indices are not accidental. Inspired by the three-dimensional curvilinear silhouette of the Cintrée Curvex case—crafted here in a 45mm by 32mm polished stainless steel case—the artist decided to have the figures “interact” with the watch by positioning them together with the hour numerals.
Underneath the watch’s pop art sensibilities and philosophical musings, though, lies uncompromising horological performance and finesse. The Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta is powered by the Calibre MVT FM 2536-SC, a self-winding movement that serves as the base engine for many Cintrée Curvex models. Comprising 191 components, this reliable mechanical workhorse delivers top-notch precision and is backed by 42 hours of power reserve.
“Kawaii” on the outside, technical on the inside, while espousing unabashed artistic and avant-garde spirit all over, the Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon infuses much welcome adorability to this auspicious Year of the Dragon accoutrement.
Get acquainted with the charming and exclusive Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Ryoko Kaneta Dragon at Cortina Watch today.
